CORRUPTION IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES AND ICT: THE URGENT NEED FOR WORK SYSTEMS TO PRECEDE E-GOVERNMENT

Abstract

As governments in developing countries (DC) come under increasing pressure to deal with corruption, Information and Communications Technology (ICT) has become an important strategic resource. Although the use of ICT in DCs is not new, its use to deal with corruption is a challenge. This paper reports on an interpretive investigation into understanding the underlying principles common to the successful use of ICT to deal with corruption in DCs. The underlying principles are examined against South Africa‟s official ICT agency as a case study. The findings reveal that whilst there are many DC e-government successful efforts to deal with corruption, a most important challenge in DCs is the absence and lack of clarity of government work processes. Key to dealing with corruption is the existence of clear and complete work processes. Although many articles have appeared on the use of ICT to fight corruption, few have extended the discussion to the common underlying principles that lead to the successful egovernment systems that deal with corruption. Methods that have the potential to provide governments in developing countries with a strategy, method and techniques for analyzing some of their work processes are required prior to implementing egovernment to deal with corruption